Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 5 · Part 3
¶Another Treatise of the said WILLIAM THORPE.
CHrist, in Saint Matthew, likeneth them that heare his word, and kéepe it, to a wise man that buildeth his house vppon a stone, this house is mans Soule, in which Christ desireth to dw…ll, if it bee stablished in Christes liuing and teaching, adorned with his faire Uertues, and chiefly Charitie, without …edling of any …rrour, vppon none other ground; none may make any building, or house, but vponupon the teaching and liuing of Christ, as Saint Paule teacheth to the Corinthians, and to comfort these, Saint Paul writeth to the people of Ephesus. Now ye are not strangers, guests, nor comelings, but Citizens, and of the houshold of God, builded vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets; in which foundation, eueryevery building that is builded, it increas…th to a holy Temple.
This is the stable Stone Christ, fast holding together two wals, for through him, …he Father is pitious, and mercifully ioyned, and made one together to mankinde, and through dread so offend God, and feruent louelove to please him, men bee inseparably made one to God, …nd …ended surely vnderunder his protection. This stone Christ was figured by the square Stones of the Temple: for wheresoeuer a square stone is laid, it abideth stedf…st▪ so Christ, and eueryevery faithfull member of his Church, by example of him, abideth …ably in true Faith, and in all heauenly vertues, in all aduersities, that they suffer in this valley of …eares. When these …quared stones were laid in the wals and Pillars of Gods Temple, no noyse or stroke of the workemen was heard, this …lence signifieth Christ, and his faithfull members, which hauehave béene, are, and euer shall bee meeke and patient in eueryevery aduers…tie, and no sound of grudgi…g perceiued in them.
This Stone, and ground of all vertues, proud beggers reproued, Christ suffered it most méekely in his owne person▪ to giuegive example of méekenesse to his faithfull followers. This world is now so full of proud beggers, called Priests, but are farre from such as Christ approueth Priests.
… For from the highest to the lowest, they doe all to please the World and the Flesh, since I had discretion, all the Popes, Cardinals, Bishoppes, and all the contagious flocke of the Priest-hoode hauehave increased damnably, … sinne to sinne, …oud Hereticks, couetous Symoners, desouled Adulterers, abusing the Sacram…ntes, especially the Sacrament of the Altar, the highest Priests occupie vnlawfully Temporall Lordships, for fauour and gaine they sell Benefices to vnworthy and vnable persons. Their Somn…rs sell sinne, suffering men and women so lye in diuerse vices. The Priestes sell the Sacramentes full deare to the people, and thus the Priest-hoode is blowne vp into pride, and vaine-glory of their dignitie, that they disdaine to follow Christ in meekenesse, holinesse, and busie Preaching of his worde, and to take their liuing at the peoples hands, as pure almes, and if they Preach not, to labour for their liuing. And they inforce, that all holy Scripture should bee expounded according to their manners.
Therefore all Kings and Rulers, that knowe the trueth of this Testimony of Priesthoode, and will not inforce themselues to withstand these enemies, and Traitors of Christ and his Church, all these striue with Antichrist against Iesus, and they shall beare the indignation of God Almightie, without end, if in conuenient time they amend them not and repent, doing due mourning and sorrow. For through the presumptuousnesse and negligence of the Prelates, wicked men are wrongfully named Hermits, and hauehave leaue to defraude the poore, and liue by their false winnings, and begging, in sloth, and other vices, and the copper nosed Prelates, are suffered to liue in pride and hypocrisie, and to defile themselues bodily and Ghostly. Also by the sufferance of these Prelates, there bee vaine brotherhoodes and Priesthoodes, full of pride, they are cause of much dissention, and exercise themselues in eating, and drinking vnmeasurably, and out of time, and they are of one cloathing, and holde together, and in all vnlawfull doings they are Partners, medlers, and Councellers.
Also, Prelates admit Pardoners, and strange beggers, with flatterings to beguile the people, against true beliefe, and to increase diuerse vices in them: and thus the viciousnesse of Prelates hauehave beene, are, and shall bée cause of Warres within this Realme and without, and cause of Pestilence of men, and murren of beastes, and barrennesse of earth, and all other mischiefes, vntill the Lords and Commons able them with grace, accordring to Gods will, to redresse this foresaid Priesthood, vntounto the innocent …eaching, and liuing of Christ and his Apostles.
Therefore, all that know the viciousnesse that now raigneth cursedly in these Priestes, and in their learning, let them pray for the health of his Church, and abstaine from these indurate enemies of Christ and his people, and from all their Sacraments, which are fleshly and false. Saint Ciprian, and other great Doctors witnesse, That not onelyonly vitious Priests, but they which fauour and consent to them shall perish with them, as they perished that consented to Dathan and Abiram, for nothing were more confusion to them, then refusing their Sacraments, which are most vnlawfull, and none needs to …eace to dye without taking any Sacrament of these, Christs enemies, since Christ himselfe will not faile to minister all healthfull Sacramentes, to all them that are in true Faith, Hope, and Charitie.
But some madde fooles, to eschewe slaunders, will bee shrieued once a years of their propper Priest, though they knowe him defouled with slaunderous vices, no doubt, these are culpable of great sinne, since Saint Paule witnesseth, that, Not onelyonly they that doe euill are worthy of damnation, but they that consent to euill doers. And the vicious Priestes despise and cast from them heauenly wisdome that is giuen of the Holy Ghost. Therefore the Lord throweth such dispisers from him, so that they doe no Priesthoode vntounto …im. Therefore they that tooke, or consent that any other should take any Sacrament of any s…ch Priest sinneth against the Trinitie, and are vnable to any Sacrament of health.
And that this Sentence is …rue, and in the hope of the remission of all my sins, trusting stedfastly in the merciemercy of God. I off… to him my Soule, and to proue that this is true, I suffer méekely, and gladly, my wr…tched body to be tormented, to his praise, and the edification of the Church.
And I, wretched cai…e, shall now, through the spirituall grace of God, make him a pleasant Sacrifice, with my most sinfull body, I beseech all that reade, or heare this my Testament, that they i…deauour by all meanes, to vnderstand truely, and kéepe faithfully the commaundements of God▪ and to pray deuoutly to …he blessed Trinitie, that I may hauehave gr…ce and wisdome from aboue, to ende my life for his cause, in a true and liu…ly faith, stedfast hope, and perfect charitie.
A Handicrafts man dyed constantly in the opinion1410. that it was not the body of Christ really which was Sacramentally v…ed in the Church. Hee was ca…yed to the place of execution, and included in … Pipe, or Tunne. The Prince, the eldest Sonne of King Henry was present, hee endeauoured to saue him, p…rswading him from his opinions, adding often threatnings, which might hauehave daunted any mans stomacke; but this valliant Champion of Christ, negl…cting the Princes faire words, …ather determined to suffer any torments▪ then so great Idolatry. Beeing inclosed in the Pipe, hee was torment…d by the raging of the f…re, and miserably roaring in the middest thereof, the Prince, beeing moued, came to him againe, commaunded the f…re to bee taken away, comforted him, and promised him life, and a yearely styp…nd during his life, if …ee would consent to his Councell. But beeing more inflamed with the Spirit of God, th…n with any earthly desire, hee continued vnmoueably in his former minde. The Prince commaunded him to bee put in againe, and that after, hee should looke for no grace. So this Lay-man pers…uered inuincible vntounto the end, not without a great and cruell battell, but with so much the more tryumph and victorie.
As soone as King Henry the fift was Crowned, at the same time the Lord Cobham was cast into the Towre, the Bishoppes and Prelates came to the King, complaining that they, and the whole Clergie were despised, and their censur…s and Sacraments not regarded, and all iending to vtter ruine and decay, and all by suffering of Heretickes, which holde assemblyes in secret places, a…d corners; which if it were any longer suffered, would ouerthrowe the Commonwealth.
Whereupon the King held a Parliament at Lecester, and made an act, that they that held Wicliffes opinion, were Heretickes, and Traytors, and to bee hanged and burned. The Bishops, beeing armed herewith, exercised wonderfull crueltie against many guiltlesse men, amongst which (besides the Lord Cobham, whose Story is deferred) was Sir Roger Acton Knight, Iohn Browne Gentleman, and Iohn Beuerley a Preacher, who were condemned by the Lawe aforesaid, and crowned with the double Martyrdome of hanging and burning,1413. at Saint Gyles i… the Field.
At that time there was 36. together, all of Noble, and gentle blo…ds, condemmed by the Bishops for Heretickes, whom this cruell Lawe draue vntounto the …. Also one Iohn Claydon a Currier, and Richard Turmine a Baker, were burned in Smithfield.
I passe ouer such, whom Iohn Mayor in his sixth Booke reporteth to be condemned for Heretickes, in the yeare 1447. amo…st which, such as were found most constant were burned.
About the same time a Fryer Minor, an English-man, being Ambassador of Pope Benedict 13. vntounto Scotland, if he had not escaped by flight had beene burned, for certaine herisies that were laid against him.
About this time was a Sermon written, whether by Wickliffe or Thorpe, or any other, it is vncertaine, it is mentioned to be in the yeare 1388.
Christ likeneth the Kingdome of Heauen to a Housholder, that went in the morning to hyre Worke-men into his Uineyard; so did he about the third houre, the sixt houre, and the ninth, and the eluenth, and as he found men standing idle, Hee said to them; Why stand you beere vn-occupyed, goe into my Vineyard, and that which is duty I shall giuegive you, and when the day was ended, he called his Steward, and bad him giuegive eueryevery man a penny. This Housholder is Christ, head of the Church on Earth, which calleth in diuers ages; as in the time of Nature he called by inspiration Abell, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and diuers others. In the time of the olde Law, Moses, Dauid, Esau, Ieremy, with the Prophets: In the time of Grace, the Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and Uirgines, some in youth, some in middle age, some in the latter dayes: it is to labour in his Uineyard, which is his Church, as there be diuers Officers in trimming of the maternall Uine, no lesse néedfull in the Church be these thrée Officers, Priest-hood, Knight-hood, and Laborers. The Priests must cut away the branches of sinne with the Sword of Gods Word: the Knights must maintaine Gods Word: the Teachers thereof, and the Land from wrongs and Enemies: the Labourers must by their sore sweat, get sustenance for themselues and others, if Priests want, the people for want of Gods Word all will grow wilde in vices, and dye ghostly, and were not men to rule people, Théeues and Enemies would so increase, that none could liue in peace, and were it not for Labourers, Priests and Knights must be Artificers, Plough-men, and Heard-men, or else die for want of sustenance: as the great Clarke Auicenna saith, eueryevery vnreasonable Beast, if he hauehave that which belongs to Nature, can liue of himselfe alone. But if there were but one man in the World, if he had all the goods in the World, yet for default he would dye, or his life worse then if he were not, because that which is prepared for mans sustenance must be altered, or else it accordeth not with him; therefore he saith, it is very needfull to hauehave men of diuers trades and callings. This should be a great cause that eueryevery calling should louelove, and not hate one another, and this I dare say, that they which doe not diligently labour in some one necessary calling or other, when the day of reckoning shall come, which is the end of this life, as he liued without trauell, so shall hee want the reward of the Penny, the endlesse ioyes of Heauen, and be cast into Hell. Wherefore, if thou be a labouring man, doe it truelie; if thou be a Seruant, be subiect, & feare to displease thy Maister for Christs sake; if thou be a Marchant, deceiue not thy Brother in chaffering; if a King, defend the poore and needy; if a Iudge, goe not to the right hand for fauour, nor to the left for hate. If thou be a Priest, instruct the ignorant, praise the obedient, and reprooue the disobedient to God, for in the end of the world you shall eueryevery one hauehave a reward, a good or a bad, then Christ wil say to eueryevery of these three States, Come giuegive a reckoning of thy Bayliwicke: First, Priests that hauehave cure of Soules shall bee called, and they shall answer for themselues and others: The second is, Temporall Lords shall answere for themselues and others: The third Baily shall account but for himselfe, or at least, hauehave lesse charge then the other, and eueryevery one shall answere three questions: How entrest thou? How rulest thou? How liuest thou? To the Priest, how entrest thou? by Truth or Symony, God or the Deuill, for that thou wouldst labour in thy calling, or for that thou wouldst bee richly arrayed? Answere in thy conscience to thine offence now, or thou shalt ere it be long answere to GOD? and I aske the question, why men set their Children to schoole, whether for their worldly aduancement, or to make them the better to know GOD and serue him? They set them to the Law, not to be Ministers of Iustice, to defend the poore, but because it is a meanes to make them great men; therefore there bee so f…w to learne the word of GOD to be Preachers, because there is no gaines therein. Chrysostome saith, Parents care for the bodies of their Children…, but not for their soules; they desire their welfare in this world, but they passe not what they shall suffer in another; they will sore bewaile the hurt of their bodies, but they reckon not much of the health of their soules, they are moued for their pouerty, but not for their sin: hereby they shew, that they begot the bodies, but not their soules.
To returne to Priests, there is now great abhominations in the Church; Priests come into Christs fold, not at his calling, but to make themselues rich, which is cause of many errors. In the Booke of mourning the Prophet saith, The enemy hath put his hand to all things he would, for he hath seene a lawlesse people in the Sanctuary, of which thou saidst they should not enter, The enemy is Sathan, for in what plenty is pride, enuy, wrath, and couetousnesse; and wherefore, but because such are entred into the Temple, which cannot kéepe the Law of God themselues, nor teach others: And Osea Ose. 4.saith to them, Because thou hast put away the knowledge of Gods will, I hauehave put thee away from vsing Priest-hood to me.
The second question, how hast thou ruled Gods flock committed to thy cure, for the good of the sheep, or for hire, as a father, or a wolfe; whom hast thou turned from their cursed liuing by thy preaching and good example? whom hast thou taught the law of God? he that is ignorant, the fatherlesse, Children and thy flocke shall greeuously accuse thee, that thou hast liued by their labour, and done nothing therefore, but let them go astray. S. Barnard saith, Priests be in place of Saints, and they doe wickedly, not being content with necessary wages, but ouer-plus: that the needy should liue by, they wast in houses of pride and lechery; beware, thou shalt giuegive an account to the last farthing, thinkest thou that thou shalt not be disalowed for nourishing young men, idly taught, as in a schoole to blaspheme God in all euill liuing: for féeding of fat palfries, of hounds, and of haukes, and of lecherous women. Heare what is said of such, they lead their daies in vanity and wealth, and in a moment go downe to hell.
The third question, what light hast thou shewed, and what myrror hast thou béen vntounto the people in thy liuing? It is wonder to sée how the life of Priests is changed, they be cloathed like Lords, they speake as dishonestly as any Ribold or Harlet: No Marchant more couetous for gaine, they ride like Princes, and all is of poore mens goods, they be blinded with to much shining of riches, they make houses as bigge as Churches, superfluously abounding with all things, they paint their Chambers with pictures, and cloath their Images with Silkes of diuers colours, but the poore for want of cloathing, and with an empty womb, cryeth at their doores; and oftentimes the poore be robbed to cloath stockes and siones: thou occupiest the place of Peter and the Apostles, no otherwise then Iudas and Simon Magus, as a candle newly quenched that stinketh ouer the house, in stead of light, and as smoake that blinds ones eyes in stead of fire; they shall hauehave an hard iudgement, because they hauehave misentred, and harder, because they hauehave misruled, and the hardest, because they hauehave cursedlie liued.
The second that shall make account for himselfe and others, is Kings, and other temporall rulers; Hast thou entred thine office to profit the people, to destroy sinne, and further the truth, or for worship and riches? Some desire such estate to be rich, a…d to oppresse such as they hate, and to take bribes, for sparing to punish sinne, and make themselues partners of other sinnes, and for bribes worke all things. Many in high office, thinke they are of higher kind of nature then others, not knowing they are poore mens brethren, and seruants for the good of the Common-wealth, and that their glory is vanity. Of whom the Prophet Osea saith, They hauehave raigned, but not by me; so was Roboam when he answered the people, My little finger is bigger then my Fathers Rib-bone, my Father greeued you somewhat, but I will adde more, which made the people rebell, and the kingdome neuer came wholy together again; wherefore it is good for Rulers to take sober councell, to eschew eare-rounders, and to hauehave an eye of louelove vntounto the Commons, for be they neuer so high, they shall come before an higher Iudge to giuegive a reckoning.
The second question, how hast thou ruled? Hast thou not beene the harder to the poore for his pouerty, nor fauored the rich for his riches? what abuse is now amongst Officers, if a rich man plead with a poore, eueryevery Officer is ready to further the rich man, and the poore man shall hauehave so many delaies, that though his right be neuer so good, for default of spending, hee shall be constrained to let his cause fall. And I hauehave heard say of them that hauehave proued both Courts, that the Court that is called most Spirituall, is most cursed; therefore it is truly said, a guift out of the bosome subuerts right Iudgement, but the words of Christ be to be feared, As you iudge you shall be iudged.
The third question, how hast thou liued? Thou that punishest other for sinne, must not sinne thy selfe, else thou condemnest thy selfe in doing the thing thou damnest in others, and when any standeth before him in Iudgement, hee must take héede before what Iudge hee must stand himselfe: but it is to be feared, that it fareth with some, as with the two false Priests that would hauehave put Susanna to death, because sh…e would not consent to their Lechery, and of the most worthy to bee hanged, damne the lesse worthy. Socrates being demaunded why hee laughed, saide, Because I sée great Théeues lead a little Theese to hanging: who is the greater Theefe, he that taketh House and Land from one, and his Heires, or he that stealeth a Sheepe.
The third Bayly, is eueryevery Christian that shall reckon to God for the goods he hath had of him; First, how hauehave you entred heere to your goods, if by extortion, stealth, vsury, or deceit; woe shall it be to you at this dreadfull day, as S. Augustine saith, if hee shall be in hell that hath not giuen of his goods well gotten, what shall become of him that stealeth others goods: desire of honour, and feare of pouerty be the causes that ma…e men liue by the rape of other mens goods; the vengeance of this couetousnes is discribed by the pot in the sixt of Zachary, wherein sat a woman named Impiety, into which the Angell threw a waight of Lead: and two women like Spirits with winges, carryed it betwixt Heauen and Earth, vntounto the Land of Sinear; as a pot with a wide mouth, so Couetousnesse gapeth for riches and honour, and as liquor in a pot profiteth not the pot, but them that draw it out, so worldly goods profit not the Getters, but others that comes after, as Owles see better by night then by day, so the couetous are blinde in heauenly matters, and quicke-eyed in earthly matters. The Lead is obstinacy, the Woman is called Impietie, because Piety is lost by Auarice: the Pot is couered with Lead, which stoppeth in Impiety, to shew that Couetousnesse hardeneth the heart, that Impiety cannot goe out by repentance, the two Woemen that bare the Pot, are Pride and Lust of the Flesh: which in Scripture are called the two Daughters of the Water, each crying, bring, bring. The first Winge is Pride of Spirituall guifts: The second Wing Pride of Temporall guifts: The Winges of the second Woman, be Gluttony and Sloth. Doctor Gregorie speaking of Gluttony, when the belly is filled, the prickes of Lecherie are stirred. And of Sloath Doctor Augustine saith, Lot was a good man whilst he was in businesse in Sodome, when hee was idle in drunkennesse he lay with his Daughters. Saint Augustine saith, rauening Fishes when they are full be satisfied, but onelyonly couetous men cannot bee satisfied, he is not affraid of GOD, nor ashamed of Men, he spareth not Father nor Mother, Brother or Friend, oppresseth the Widdow and motherlesse Children, hee maketh frée men bond, hee bringeth forth false Witnesse, and occupyeth dead mens goods. What madnesse is this, to looselife and grace, to win damnation, and to loose Heauen to win Go…d: And Innocentius saith, how many hath Couetousnesse deceiued for Balacks rewards. Balaam would hauehave cursed Gods people, notwithstanding his Asse reproued him, Couetousnes made Achan steale the accursed things to the destruction of him and his house: Gehesie was stricken with Leprosie for selling a mans health that came by the grace of God: Iudas for couetousnes sold Christ, and after hanged himselfe; Couetousne… was the cause of the lying and sudden death of Ananias and Saphira.
If a rich man hauehave a whole streete, or a great field, and a poore man hauehave an Acre of Land, or but one House neere, eyther by intreaty, or pursuing, hee neuer ceas…th vntill he hath gotten the poore mans House and Land, as Achab and Iezabell s…w Naball for his Uineyard. Saint Ambrose saith to the rich, how long will you scratch out your couetousnes, will you dwell alone, and hauehave no poore dwell with you: why put you out your kinde, and challenge the earth which Nature hath made common to poore and rich: Nature bringeth forth all men poore, naked, and needy of meate and drinke, without riches or gay clothes, and the earth taketh vsus naked againe, and closeth none of our riches: he that maketh difference betwixt poore and rich, when they hauehave lien a little in the graue, looke vponupon them who was poore, and who was rich, and thou shalt se… no difference in their bones, except there be more clothes rotten with the rich then the poore, which is a hurt to the liuing, and no good to the dead: of such extortioners it is written, they reape other mens fields▪ and they pluck away the Grapes of the vine of the oppressed, they pluck away their clothes and leaue them naked: and in that the aforesaid pot was lift vp betwixt heauen and earth, sheweth that couetousnesse hath no Charitie to God, or Man, and they carry the pot to the Land of Synear, that is, the land of stench or Hell. Héere wee should aske how thou hast gouerned thy Wife, thy Children and seruants, whether thou hast brought them vp in Gods Lawes, and continued them therin according to thy power, otherwise thou shalt giuegive an account, and to auoide these hard accounts, I councell eueryevery one to trust in the mercy of God, through Christs demerites with a liuely Faith, and repenting heart of thine iniquities, and Amend, else who shall graunt thee pardon and release of thy accounts.
Now we will consider, who shall call vsus to this reckoning, before whom, and what punishment to the wicked, and what reward to the faithfull: there bee two Iudgements, one at separation of body and soule, which is the particular doome: and the second at the generall resurrection that is vniuersall; to the first we shall be called one after another, to the second we shal come altogether in the twinckling of an eye: we are called to the first by thrée summons; sicknes, age, death: the first warneth, the second threatneth, the third taketh; some are slayne without sicknes or age, and the most part without age, and there is a sicknes that makes the body fe… ble, and a sicknes of the soule which is generall to all men, and the continuance therof is cause of corruption: if a man cast all worldly things out of his minde, yet can he scantly thinke onelyonly of God a Pater-noster while: O God, what a sicknes is this to the sonnes of Adam, of this sicknes spake S. Paul, I see another Law of my members, rebelling against the Law of my Spirit; as a man looking on the Sunne cannot long indure, yet the fault is not in the Sunne for it is most cleere, but in the féeblenes of mans eyes: so since Adam was put out of Paradice, all his off-spring hauehave been thus sick…: the second sicknes is of the body, as hunger thirst, cold, heat, sorrow, wearinesse, and many others: as Iob saith. A man borne of a woman is full of many miseries, and is but for a little time: there be other sicknesses that happen to some as Feuers, Dropsie, Blindnes, and such like, as it is said of the Israelites, if thou keep not the comman dements of God I shall increase the sorrows and sicknesses of thy seed, but God sendeth such sicknesses sometimes to good men, and tribulations for two causes: First to know that it is of God, and to increase in méekenes: of this saith Saint Paul, Rom. 12.least my great reuelations should extoll me in pride, to mee is giuen the pricke of the flesh: I three times prayed God it should goe from me, he answered, my grace is sufficient; for my power is manifested in weaknes; the Diuell asking Iob to be tempted, was heard, and not the Apostle asking his temptation to be remooued▪ he heard the damned, and heard not him that should bee saued: also God sendeth sometime his Saints to giuegive vsus sinners example of patience, being we hauehave deserued much more: as Toby came from the Charitable worke of burying the dead Swallowes were suffered to dung in his eyes being asleepe, and make him blind it is written, that it was for an example of patience to them that should come after, and though he euer feared God he was not agreeued with God, but feared him still, and thanked him alwaies, and the sicknesses of wicked men be for two causes: first that they should leaue their sinnes and louelove God; we see often men in sicknesses know God, that neuer would turne to him whilst they were whole: Also God sendeth sicknes and troubles often to the wicked, to make others afraid to folow their sinnes, as Antiochus wormes crauled out of his body whilst he was aliue, and his friends were weary of his stinke, yea he might not abide his owne stinke: then he said it is rightfull to be subiect to the Lord, & for mortall man not to hold himselfe equall with God: the Story saith, hee asked mercy of God, and could none hauehave, and vowed to doe more good to the Temple and Iewes then he had done harme, and to become a Iew an… goe ouer all the land preaching Gods Law; yet because it cam… not out of true repentance springing of Faith, but of his odious paine, hee obtained not fauour: by this men should see what it is to be disobedient to God: also sicknes sheweth that the patient is mortall, and that hee must die though hee may now scape.
The second Somner is age, hee will not leaue thee vntill hee hauehave brought thee to death: yet many, though they see all their members decayed with age, take no heed; but if he see a little mirth forgetteth the Somner hath him by the sleeue, and what a reckoning he must make, which if he answere not well, he forfeiteth body and soule to damnation: a Doctor saith, this is the greatest abuse of the world; the reason is because these three, idle youth, vnhonest speech, and wicked déed, which if they grow with a man from his childhood to his old age, they make a three-fold cord to binde the old man in custome of sinne: wherefore Esay saith, breake the cordes of sinne.
The third Somner is death, his condition is come, hee, first or last spareth neither poore nor rich: Saint Augustine saith, wee ought feare death, for in what estate it findeth one, it bringeth him to Iudgement: therefore the Wise man saith to his Sonne, thinke on the last day, and thou shalt neuer sinne.
We shall likewise be called with three messengers vntounto the last Iudgement: the first the sicknes of the world, the second his age and feeblenes, the third his end: as decay of Naturall heate, and increase of vnnaturall heate, is the sicknes of the body: so decay of the louelove of God, and our neighbour, and increase of vnnaturall lusts is the sicknes of the world, Christ saith this is a signe of the end of the world that wickednes shall wax plenteous, and charitie wax cold: know well saith Saint Paul, in the last daies shall be perilous times, Mat. 21. 2 Tim. 3.men louers of themselues, couetous, proud, vnobedient to parents, without affection, &c. when thou seest suchmen, know the first Somner warneth the world that the day of reckoning draweth neere.
The second Somner the age of the world, the day of the end of the world was hid from the Apostles, and from Christs manhood as to shew it vsus: yet by authorities of Scriptures we may show that that day of wrath draweth neere, least any say as that foule belly seruer,Luke 12. 1 Cor. 10. I will say to my soule, eate, drinke and be merry, thou hast much goods laid vp for many yeares. If Paul said 1300. yeares past, we be those to whom the ends of the world is come, much more we may say the same, and Chrisostome saith, when thou seest the Sunne so low that the vallies be darke, thou knowest night is néere: much more when it is so low that the hils be darke, so if thou seest darknes of sinne hauehave mastery of seculer men, it is a token the end of the world is nigh: but when thou seest the darknes of sinne hath gotten the vpper hand of Priests, that should be as hilles amongst the communaltie in perfect liuing, who doubteth but that the world is at an end: and Abbas Ioakim saith from the yeare 1200. all times be to be suspected: and Ildiger in her prophesies saith, as the seuenth day the world was full made, and God rested from his worke: so in seuen thousand yeares the number of them that shall be saued shall be fulfilled, and then shall the Saints wholly rest in body and soule: and now it is from the Creation six thousand and six hundred yeares.
The Disciples asked Christ three questions; the first of the destruction of Ierusalem, the second of his comming to Iudgement,Mat. 24. the third of the end of the world: To the first he said, when the Romans besiege the Citie, soone after it shall bee destroyed, to the second and the third he gaue many tokens, as that there should bee warres, pestilence, and earthquakes: lastly, when wee shall see the abomination of holinesse standing in the sanctuarie, then who so readeth let him vnderstand: this abomination as Doctors say shall bee in the great Antichrists dayes 1240. dayes: and a Doctor saith that a day must be taken for a yeere by authoritie of Scriptures, and by reason: and it is thought to this Clarke, that Antichrist shall more appeare, in the yeare of Christ 1400. then any time before, and there lacketh but twelue yéeres of the fulfilling thereof.Reuel. 7. In the opening of the seuen seales is declared the state of the Church, from Christ to the end of the world: the foure first seales from Christ to Antichrist; the first Seale the state of the Church in Christs and his Apostles time: the voice of the Lyon is Christs voice, the white horse his Disciples, the whitenesse sheweth their righteousnes, by their bow their true preaching, pricking repentance into mens hearts, they went to Iewry ouercomming them to leaue the trust they had in the old Law, and to trust onelyonly in Christ: they went out winning the Payenims from Idolatry to Christ: The Calfe in the second Seale which is a Beast, was vsed to be sacrificed, betokeneth the state of the Church in the time of Martyrs, and that is tokened by the Red Horse: this began at cursed Nero, and indured vntounto Constantine the great that indowed the Church: in this time many shed their blo…d for the testimonie of Gods word, and of two and twenty Bishops, vntill Siluester the first, I read but of foure but they were Martyrs: and in the time of Dioclesian the Emperour, the persecution was so great, that in thirty daies were slaine 22000. in diuers countreys for the Gospell. The opening of the third Seale, telleth the state of the Church in the time of Heretickes, by the Black-horse is figured false vnderstanding of the Scripture: then cried the third Beast which is a man, for it was needfull to preach Christs Incarnation and Passion against Heretickes, that tooke those points amisse: The fourth Seale t…lleth the state of the Church in the time of hypocrites, that by outward signes of repentance onelyonly blind the people: the pale colour of the Horse signifieth their hypocrisie, the rider was death, to signifie they slay ghostly, that teach any other way but Christ, and Hell followeth them▪ for Hell receiueth those that deceiue men: in that time it was needfull that the fourth beast the Eagle which flyeth highest of all Birds, to make his cry, to raise vp the Gospel, least mens traditions ouergrow it, by the information of these hypocrites: The fift Seale sheweth the state of them that shall follow, and the desire the followers of Gods law shall hauehave to bee deliuered from this woe. The sixt Seale tell…th the state of the Church in Antichrists limmes; the Angels that stood in the foure corners of the earth, to hold the foure windes from blowing are the Diuels Ministers: the foure windes are the foure Gospels, they shall let the preaching thereof, and the breath of the Holy Ghost to fall vponupon men: after this commeth the mysterie of the seuen Seales, that Antichrist is come in his owne person, whom Iesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, hee and his seruants shall show their vttermost persecution against Christ and his subiects.
I said in my second principle, that it was to be knowne before what Iudge wee must reckon: the Iudge is God himselfe that seeth all our deeds and thoughts, and eueryevery mans deeds, and the secrets of their hearts shall be opened to all the world: as Saint Iohn saith, the dead men, great and small, stood about the Throne, and bookes were opened, and the Booke of Life was opened, and the dead were iudged according to their deed written in that Booke: this Booke is mens consciences, that now are closed, but then shall be open to all men: the Booke of Life is Christs Gospel, which is now hid from the damned, through their owne malice: in the first book is written all that is done, in the second all that should be done: therefore look in the Booke of the Conscience whilest thou art heere, if thou findest any thing contrarie to Christs example and Doctrine, scrape it out with the knife of repentance, and write it better.
I said it were good to know what reward the good shall hauehave, and what reward the wicked shall hauehave: it is written, Christ shall come with the same body that was crucified, all that shall be saued shall cleaue to him, and be rauished, meeting him in the ayre, they that shall be damned lying vponupon the earth. Then Christ shall aske account of deeds of mercy, reproouing false Christians for leauing them vndone, rehearsing the paines that his true seruants hauehave suffered: then the wicked with the Diuell shall goe into euerlasting fire, and the righteous into …uerlasting life: then that which is written shall be fulfilled.
Woe wo, to them that dwel on the earth; wo to the Paynim that worshipped Idols, and other creatures; woe to the Iew that trusted too much in the Old Law, and despised Christ; woe to the false Christian that knew the will of God, and did it not, and hath not contemplated his mercies and waies, and been thankefull for his benefits, and hast made thy hart a house of swine, & a den of theeues, by vncleane thoughts and delights: thou hast shut God out of thy heart, and hee shall shut thée out of heauen, thou hast harboured the fiend, and thou shalt euer dwell with him in hell, thou shouldest hauehave sung holy, holy, holy Lord: but thou shalt cry woe, woe, woe to mee: but they that bee saued shall ioy in God, Ioy all amongst themselues, and one of an others saluation: how happie bee they that their trauels bee finished, and brought to so gracious an end: especially, that they hauehave escapt the paines: O how happie are they for the endlesse blisse which they hauehave in the sight of God.
In this yeare began the Councell of Constance,1414. called by Sigismond the Emperour, and Pope Iohn the 23. for pacifying a Schisme betwixt three Popes, all striuing for the Pope-dome, which continued nine and thirty yeares: the Italians set vp this Iohn, the Frenchmen set vp Gregory, the Spaniard set vp Benedict, and eueryevery Nation defended his Pope, to the great disturbance of Christian Nations: this Councell indured foure yéeres, wherein all matters were decided most by foure Nations: the English, Germans, French, and Italians, out of eueryevery Nation was a president: there names were, Iohn the Patriarch of Antioch for France, Anthony Archbishop of Rigen for Italy, Nicholas Archbishop of Genes…ensis for Germanie, and Richard Bishop of Bathe for England: the aforesaid Pope Iohn, resigned his Pope-dome, for which the Emperour thanked him, and kissed his féete: but after he repented himselfe, … being disguised fled, but was taken by the Emperour and put in prison: this Pope was deposed, by the Decree of the Councell; more then fortie most hainous crimes prooued against him; as for hiring a Physition to poison Alexander his predecessor, and that he was an Heretick, a Symoniack, a Lier, an Hypocrite, a Murderer, an Inchanter, a Dice-player, an Adulterer, a Sodomite, and many others: he held a Councell at Rome about foure yeares before, and euer when they assembled there was a huge Owle in the place, or somewhat else in the shape of an Owle, which did alwaies looke so earnestly vponupon the Pope, which made him still breake vp the Sessions, and at length to dissolue the Councell: some said it was the Spirit of God in the shape of an Owle, indeed there Spirit is better figured in the shape of an Owle then of a Doue.
The Councell said the way to reforme the Church was to begin a minoritis: the Emperour said, non a minoritis, sed a maioritis, there was fiue and forty Sessions in this Councell: there was three seuerall Popes deposed in this Councell.
In the eighth Session was the condemnation of Iohn Wickliffe, and his fiue and fortie Articles, & of his memory and bones to be burned, as it is before recited: and in the thirtéenth Session was decréed that no Priest vnderunder paine of excommunication shall communicate vntounto the people vnderunder both kindes of Bread and Wine: In the fifteenth Sessions silence was commanded vnderunder paine of the great curse, and that none should make any noise of hand, foote, or voice: and then the condemnation of Iohn Hus was read. In the seuenteenth Session, the Emperour tooke vponupon him a iourney to the King of Arragon, to intreat with Pope Benedictus about the resignation of the papacy, and an excommunication was denounced against al that should goe about to hinder the Emperours iourney, and that the Councell should eueryevery Sunday make prayers and processions for him, and an hundred daies of pardon giuen to them that would be present at the said prayers and processions, and that all Prelates should then weare their Pontificalibus: granting besides to eueryevery Priest that said one Masse for the same an hundred daies pardon, and to all other that once a day should say one Pater-noster, and one Aue-Mary for the safety of the Emperour forty dayes pardon.
In the nineteenth Session, Ierome of Prage was accused of Heresie, cast into prison, and forced to abiure.
In the two and twentieth Session, Letters were made and set vponupon all Church doores, admonishing Duke Frederick, to restore George Bishop of Austridge such Lands, Kents and Reuenues as hee detayned, vnderunder paine of interdiction, suspention, and excommunication.
In the one and twentith Session, the Bishop of Londy made a Sermon, which being ended, Ierome of Prage, which had abiured, stood vponupon a Bench; replying against his Sermon, preaching sundry things: wherevpon the said Ierome was condemned and deliuered to the seculer power to be burned.
In the seuentéenth and eighteenth Sessions, there was great proces giuen out against Duke Frederick, accusing him for sacriledge, and excommunicating him: for not obaying the admonition of the Councell, concerning the vsurpation of the possessions of the Bishop of Austridge as aforesaid.
In the one and thirtieth Session, Letters were directed to a certaine Earle in Italy, for laying violent hands vponupon the Bishop of Asce, and imprisoning him, commanding him to set him at liberty, vnderunder paine of interdiction and excommunication: and an other Decree was set forth for the restoring of the Liberties of the Church of Baron.
In the nine and thirtith Session, it was ordered that eueryevery Pope should sweare to beleeue and hold the Catholick Faith, after the traditions of the Apostles, generall Councels, and holy Fathers, namely of the eight generall Counsels, Ephisme, Calcedone, two of Nice, and foure of Constantinople: also the Councels of Lateran, Lyons, and Ui…nna; to obserue, preach and defend him to death: and by all meanes to prosecute the right of the Sacraments, canonically deliuered to the Catholick Church, and writing his Oath, he should offer it before witnesses vponupon some Altar.
On Saint Martins Euen a new Pope was chosen, therefore they called him Martin, and hee was brought to the Emperour and Councell, into the Church of Constance, and there authorized for Pope: and was brought thence most honorably with sumptuous procession, vntounto the Monasterie of Saint Augustine, to bee crowned: The Emperour on foote leading his horse on the right hand, and the Marquesse of Brandenburge, Prince Elector, leading his Horse on the left hand.
When this Councell should be ended, the Pope sent a Cardinall with proclamation to dismisse the Councell, and to giuegive eueryevery man leaue to depart, and to shew the Popes indulgence, which he had granted to all and eueryevery person present, at: that Councell that they should hauehave full absolution during his life, so that hee procured his absolution in writing within two monethes: also an other iudulgence was granted of plenarie remission of sinnes at the houre of death, and was not onelyonly for their Maisters, but for their houshould: vponupon condition that from notification thereof, they should fast eueryevery Friday one whole yeare, for the absolution of their life time: and for their absolution at the houre of death, to fast the same Friday one other yeere, if they had no lawfull impediment, and after the second yeere they should fast to their liues end eueryevery Friday, or else doe some other good worke.
There were at this Councell three hundred forty and six Arch-bishops and Bishops: fiue hundred threescore and foure Abbots and Doctors; sixteene thousand seculer Princes, Dukes, Earles, Knights, Esquires: foure hundred and fifty common women: six hundred Barbers: three hundred and twenty Minstrels, Cookes, and Iesters: there was 60500. forrenners at that Councell from Easter to Whitsontide; the chiefe thing to be noted in this Councell was, that the Popes authority is vnderunder the Councell.